By Janet Ekstract NEW YORK- On Friday, at a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern over what he said is the possibility of “further spillover” from the conflict in Gaza as the Council considered the current situation with increased violence against Palestinians in the West Bank from Israeli settlers. Meanwhile, Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East at the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) Khaled Khiari briefed the Security Council, expressing his concern about Israeli settler violence in the occupied West Bank. Khiari reported there are increased tensions in the broader Middle East region that has seen daily fire across the Blue Line of separation between Lebanon and Israel. In addition, there have been airstrikes in Syria and more tension in the Red Sea with Houthi rebel attacks on ships.
UN Security Council members expressed their worries about the impact of fighting on Palestinian civilians and West Bank tensions with ambassadors urging Israel to put a halt to the settler violence and to hold perpetrators accountable. Vice President at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Marwan Muasher and Special Advisor at the Norwegian Refugee Council Itay Epshtain also briefed ambassadors, warning about the dire humanitarian situation there and the ever-increasing possibility of spillover. A majority would like to see an immediate ceasefire to ensure humanitarian access and underscored how crucial a plan for a two-state solution is.
